Veneer feeding and handling machine



.l. C-DONNELLY.

VENE ER FE EDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

' I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 19H).

1 ,36Q,275, Patented Nov. 30, 1920..

H SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N MRN r'ne' J. C. DONNELLY.

VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. I919. 1,360,275.

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T 1 4 x -1 w 3 wow u J. C. DONNELLY. VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29, I919.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

H SHEETSSHEET 3- J. C. DONNELLY.

I VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29, I9I9.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

HHN WNW IIIIII III Illl I 1! I! EN J I I SHEET$SHEET 4.

J. c. DONNELLY.

VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29| 1919.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

I I SHEETS-SHEET 5.

O 0.0 One 0 O J. C. DONN ELLY.

VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING NIACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. IQI QI Patented Nov. 30, 1920. ll SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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1. c. DONNELL'Y.

VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1919.

1 360,275. Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

11 SHEETS-SHEET Z- J. C. DONNELLY.

VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 19:9.

1,360275. 'PatentedN0v.30,1920. I

H SHEETS-SHEET 8.

J. C. DONNELLY.

'VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1919.

1 ,3603275. Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

-. v 11 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

146 F .15. :Q I 147 15 5 J51 J49 a 1' 30 6L u, o a L J InUenZOr:

JQQQl M J. C. DUNNtLLY.'

VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1919.

1,36 0,275. Patented Nov. 30, 1920..

I1 SHEETS-SHEET l0.

Inventor:

153, W a MM J. C. DONNELLY. VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, I919.

Patented N0v. 30, 1920.

H SHEET$-SHEET 11- V F g .19;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. DONNELLY, OF BARBERTGN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VENEER FEEDING AND HANDLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Application filed March 29, 1919. Serial No. 286,153.

automatically meaisuring, cutting and staclo ing long lengths of thin veneer material, such, forexainple, as is employed in the manufacture of the slrillets or covers oi small commercial match boxes.

The main object of my invention is the production of a machine of simple and ct licient construction and operation whereby *predetermined lengths are severed from veneer strips as rapidly as they are peeled from a log, and whereby such lengths are uuiiiornilvstacked and positioned for delivery to a illet or other blank chopping machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a veneer measuring, cutting and stacking machine in such cooperative relation to a lilanlr chopping machine that as the blanks are being successively severed from one stack of veneer lengths, other similar lengths are being 'suret and cut from the veneer s rips and. being progressively stacked for suoseipicnt delivery to the chopping machine.

ll ith these invention, generally stated, comprises veneer strip feeding mechanism; traveling gripper mechanism to which the veneer strips are delivered and by which gripper mechanism the veneer strips are grasped and con ducted a predetermined distance. and cutter mechanism whereby the thus drawn material is severed from the s "ips to produce measured veneer lengths, said gripper mechanism being periodically operated to release and other objects in view my are delivered by the structure, which machine is so coordinated with the said structure and the veneer cutting and stacking mechanism that as skillet or other blanks are being severed from one stack of veneer lengths contained in one compartment of the structure, another quantity of vecner lengths is being produced and deposited in another compartment of the structure for subse quent delivery to the chopping machine, and so on.

The invention also comprises various novel features of construction and combinations of parts, all oi which will. he hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure l is a side elevation of. the left hand or receiving portion of a veneer measuring, cutting and stacking machine em bodying my invention; showing the parts in the relative positions that they occupy immediately after the veneer strips have been pulled rearward by one of the grippers and released.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of the right hand portion of the machine, showing its relation to the feeding and cutting mechanism of a skilled chopper.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, enlarged, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through'the receiving end of the machine, as on the line H of Fig. 3. g

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the receiving end of the machine looking at the opposite side from Fig. 1, showing locking and releasing mechanism for the veneer feeding roll and cutter; and illustrating the parts in the relative positions which they occupy when a special link for releasing the said mechanism is initially engaging a trip-lever oil: the latter.

Fig. 5 is a detail, in plan, of the special link and adjuncts.

Fig. 6 is a partial transverse vertical section through the receiving end of the machine, as 011 the line 66 of l.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a portion of the gripper conveyor and one of the grippers thereof during the rearward travel of the latter, showing parts of the parallel guide rails for the gripper.

Fig. 8 is'a transverse section, as on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are diagrams illustrating successive relative operations oi the feeding and cutting mechanisms at the receiving end of the machine, and'also the corresponding operations of the conveyer and its grippers on the veneers.

Fig. 13 is a partial. side elevation of the right hand or delivery portion of the machine, the gear casing being in section.

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section through the machine, as on the line ll1l of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 15 is a section through the magazine or turret structure, showing one of the beater bars and its actuating mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a partial horizontal section of the blank chopping machine, as on the line 1e 1e of Fig. 13.

Fig.1? is a sectional elevation of a form of clutch mechanism for the main shaft of the chopping machine.

Fig; 18 is a vertical section as on the line l8 18 of Fig. 17.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a long bed and: 21, 22 frame standards at its respective ends, said bed and the standards 22 constituting in the present instance elementsoi an ordinary skillet blank chopping machine, as will presently appear. The standards 21, 22 support brackets 23, 2a which are equipped with bearings for two transverse parallel shafts 25, to which are keyed. counterpart, sprocketwheels 27 respectively. Each of the sprocketwheels 27 comprises two spaced toothed members, 28, 29, and may be an integral or two-part structure. Passing about the members 28 of the respective wheels 21' is an endless chain conveyor 30 whichis continuously driven in any suitable manner so that the lower lead of the conveyer shall travel horizontally from the front to the rear of the machine, thatv is. fron left to right as illustrated in Figs. land 2. In the present instance the shaft 26 has keyed on one end thereof a gear-wheel 81 which is included in a train of gears (Fig. 13) that are concurrently driven from the shaft 32 of a suitably-disposed electric-motor 33. The conveyer is. provided with two counterpart grippers 34:, which are so located thereon as to divide the chain into two. equal sections. These grippers constitute, in effect, a part of and travel with-the conveyer, their function being to grip at successive periods during their travelthe "free ends oi? a" series of superposedveneer strips, 35, as the latter are being peeled'from a log by a veneer lathe; thence pull the superposed strips horia ontally a prescribed distance, and then release them. The grippers and the mechanism for periodically operating them will be hereinafter described.

The conveyer is provided at a certain. distance in advance of *ach gripper with a special link 36 having laterally projecting studs 3? which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of the outer members 25) of the sprocketwhccls 2i and thus he ell'cctnally supported and guided as the chain passes about the sprocket-wheels. The link is provided on its opposite side to the studs 37 with a lateral projection 38. constituting a wiper, which is adapted, as the link ap proaches and recedes from the receiving end oi the machine, to determine th active and idle conditions oi mechanisms ior intermittently feeding the free ends oi the superposed strips oi" vcncer to the adjacent gripper and for thereafter, when such ends have been drawn rearward by the gripper, severing predetermined lengths from the strips. as will now be described.

On the front standards 21 is supported a horizontal table 39 (Fig. 4:) provided preferably with a downwardly and forwardly flaring guide structure l0 by means oi. which a series of superposed strips of veneers, are guided from an adjacent peeling ma chine to the table. A gravity dog llpivotcd to a stud 42' on a forwardly extending arm 2 at one side of the table rests upon the uppermost strip oi veneer adjacent the throat oi": the structure 40 and thus prevents the accidental retraction of the strips. The arm 4-2 is preferably pivoted to one side of the table so that the arm and the dog may be bodily raised to facilitate the initial dclivery of the veneer strips to the guide strnctnre. a suitably-arranged slop iii being provided to limit the descent o l the arm. .\n inclined cover plate 14; overlies the forward part of the table and constitutes. in cilcct, a continuation of the guide slrncture. The table is also provided with spaced overhanging cover plates 15 to aii'orr'l an elongated guideway for the veneer strips. It is also formed with a transverse opening l6 therein for the passage of an idler teed roll 47 with which the under surface oi the veneer stock contacts. The sha'i' l8 oi this roll has its bearings in vcrtically-inovalilc hoxcs it) mounted in brackets 50 on the standard, which boxes are provided with usual spring and screw adjusting devices in order to position the roll in operative relation to the strips imposed thereon.

Spaced above the idler roll an intermittently-rotatable milled ieed roll 51. the eiiective periphery of which, excepting a reduced portion 52 thereof, contacts with and feeds the strips a definite distance during the active travel of the feed roll. The shaft 53 of the roll is provided at one end with a gear-wheel 5a in mesh with an idler gear 55 on an adjacent stud shaft 56, which latter gear, in turn, is in mesh with a gearwheel 57 on an adjacent rearward shaft 58 having its hearings in brackets 59 supported on 'thestai'idards The shaft 58 is extended somewhat beyond the table and is equipped with a sprocketwvheel 60 which is connected by means of chain 61 with a sprocket-wheel 62 that is keyed on a sleeve 63 mounted to turn loosely on a bushing on the shaft 25 of the forward chain wheel 27, whereby when the said sleeve is temporarily rotated concurrently with the shaft 25, as will presently be described, the shafts 58, 53 are correspondingly actuated. A toothed tension wheel 62 supported by an arm 63 pivoted to a suitably-disposed bracket member, overhangs and bears upon the upper run of the chain 61.

On the shaft 58 is a face can]v 64:; the race of which receives a stud. or roll 65 on a rockframe 66 which, overhanging the shaft 58, is afiined to a horizontal pivot shaft 67 having its hearings in brackets 68 on the standards 21. The free end of this frame is connected to a veiuically reciprocative head 69 carrying a depending knife 70 which is adapted by actuation of the frame to sever the veneer strips transversely when the latter are advanced into the path of the knife; the table 39 being appropriately slotted, as at 71, for the passage of the knife. The contour of the cam rac is such that at a given point in the rotation of the shaft 58 the frame is quickly actuated in order to lower and raise the knife, the frame 66 thereupon remaining up until a succeeding complete rotation of the shaft; and the peripheral formation of the feed roll 51 is such thatimmeitliately after the severance of the veneer strips by the knife the roll contacts with the opposing strip and moves the series rearwardly a predetermined extent for engagement by one of the grippers 3a of the chain conv ver. ."it the same time the reduced peripheral portion 5.) of the roll 51. advances above the veneer strips and the latter i .e thus cc to be conducted rearwardly by the gripper. Figs. 9 to '12 inclusive).

Suitable means are provided to lock the shafts 53 ten'i nu'arily during the period that the veneer s us are being pulled, which means is pri biy as follows:' Fast on the extended em. of the shaft 58 is a disk 71. having a suitablydisposed peripheral notch 72 with which. a horizontal bolt 7 3 adapted to be moved into and out of locking engagr-znient. (See Figs. 3 and. 5). This bolt is slidingly mounted in a casing 74 on the side of the adjacent bracket, and is con nected by means of a rod 75 with a rockarm. 76 which is pivoted on a bracket 7 7 on the standard 21. The rod 7 5 extends freely through a guide-lug 7 5 on the bracket, and

a spring 78, which encircles the rod and. bears against the lug and acollar or pro jection 78 on the rod, tents to project the rod and bolt normally toward disk 71. When the bolt is in regist with the notch of the disk the two shafts 58, 53 are locked. Mounted in a bearing on. the bracket 77 is a horizontal rockshaft 79 having at its ends upwardly and downwardly extending arms 8t), 81. respectively. The lower end of the arm 81 extends adjacent to and has pin-andslot connection 82 with the rock-arm 7 6, and the upper end of the arm 8?) extends adjacent the upper run of the conveyor 30 and bears an upstanding projection This projection lies in the path of the wiper 38 on thespecial link 36 above mentioned as the latter ap proaches the forward end of the machine. (as seen in Figs. 5 and 5), which wiper thus presses against the projection 83 and. bodily swings the lever arm forward. thus moving the rock-arm 7 6 and retracting the bolt from the locking disk in opposition to the action of the spring '78. The belt is held in retracted position by means of a suitable dog 8-4, the tooth of which engages a shoulder85 formed by a notch in the top of the bolt. This dog is pivoted. to the ca ing, as at 86, its tooth being movable through an aperture in the latter and being normally depressed by the action of asprung-pressed T-rod 87 which extends through the casing and by its head engages the dog. The dog is provided with a tailpiece 88 which e2;- tends into the path of a cam fast on the end of the sleeve 63, vhich cam includes two diametrically opposite projections 89 which are so formedthat in each rotation of the sleeve 63 they act successively upon the tailpiece to disengage the tooth. of the dog from the retaining notch of the bolt.

Fast on the sleeve 63 is a double toe-head the members 90 of which are diametrically opposite to each other and are so located in relation to the wiper 38 of the link 36 that as thelatter passes about the front wheel 27 the wiper abuts against one of the toe members and thus bodily turns the head, and therewith the sleeve 63, a half rotation. When the wiper escapes the engaged member the other member is in position for a similar action thereon by the wiper of the other special link when the latter reaches and as it rounds the forward sprocketwheel 27. (See Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive).

Each of the grippers 34 to which the free ends of the veneer strips are advanced by the feed roll .51 as above describ 1, comprises two complementary jaws one of which is supported in fixed relation to the conveyor while the other is hingedly mount ed in the fixed jaw and is held in normal gripping relation thereto. (See Figs. 6. 7 and 8). The fixed jaw includes an arm 91 the locking ii i i till ill)

having spaced extended lugs 92 which constitute one of the chain links; the face of the arm ad acent its outer or free end havin a toothed or serrated riming memher 93.

The movable gripper jaw comprises an arm 95 one end of which is hingedly connected to the fixed arm 91by means of a pintle 96; the other or free end of the hinged arm 95 having a toothed or serrated gripping member 96 in co-acting relation to the corresponding member 93 of the fixed jaw arm. 7 The ends of the pintle are extended outwardly and provided with springs 97, each of which is oppositely engaged at its respective ends with studs on the arm 95 and on a fixed head 98 on the adjacent pintle end, whereby the hinged jaw is held normall in ri opin relation to the fixed 'aw.

Set screws 99 are mounted in the arm 95 so as to bear against the fixed arm and thus permit minute adjustment of the bite of the gripping jaws, as desired. The inner end of the arm 95 is provided with an extension 100'adapted to bear against a segmental cam member 101 as the gripper is being carried by the chain around the forward sprocket-wheel. (See Figs. 1, 3 and 4:.) This cam member is supported on the standards 21 and its curved acting surface is so formed and disposed in relation to the path of the conveyer that as the extension contacts with and passes along such surface the movable gripper jaw is swung open in opposition to the closing action of the springs 97. ld hen the gripper has been carried directly beneath the forward wheel 27 the jaws are fully open and the free ends of veneer strips are entered between them and released. by the action of the fecal roll 51. Thereupon the extension 100 escapes the cam 101, and the hinged aw, being released, automatically resumes its normal condition and perforce clamps the strips between the jaws. The gripper in its continued. travel pulls the strips horizontally toward the rear of the machine, and as the said gripper approaches a predertermined limit in its travel the knife is actuated as previously described to sever the veneer lengths from the body of the strip. (See Fig. 10.) The gripper continuing its travel carries the severed veneer lengths short distance farther; whereupon the extension 100 rides upon suitably-disposed cam piece 102 (Figs. 2, 8 and. 1 -1) and is ther by raised to swing open the hinged jaw and release the engaged strips, which latter thereupon drop bodily into' an intermittently-rotatable magazine or turret structure which will be hereinafter described.

When the gripper escapes the cam 102 the hinged jaw resumes its closed position, and the gripper passes around the rear sprocket-wheel 27 and continues its travel to the forward end of the n achinc for a repetition of the gripping and pulling operations upon the incoming veneer strips. As one gripper escapes the strips at the rear of the machine the other gripper approaches the forward end oi the machine, as seen in Fig. 12, and in its travel about the trout sprocketwheel the latter gripper acted upon and opened by the cam member 101 preparatory to closing upon and grasping the leading ends of the veneer strips which have been timely advanced by the feed roll immediately after the severing operation by the knife as previously described. ln other words the free ends of the veneer strips as they come from the peeling machine are caught by the forwardly positioned gripper. and such strips. by virtue of the relative position of the feed roll 5 thereon. being unrestrained. are drawn rear ward by the said gripper to the po-ition indicated in 10. and the knife is there upon instantly actuated to sever the prescribed length from the strip-4. The feed roll 51 then immediately en; the leading ends of the strips. as seen in Fig. 11. and advances them for cngzureinent by the succeeding gripper. as seen in Fig. 12. and at the same time the severed strips are carried suiiiciently rearward by the preceding gripper to a position where the gripper is opened and the severed strips released. as illustrated in Fig. 12. Thus the tow! roll intermittently advances the tree ends of the strips to gripping position: the grippers act in a ternation upon said strips to draw them a measured distance; the knife scvcis succeeding lengths from the strips when they have been drawn rearward to the prewrihezl extent, and each gripper carries the severed lengths to a position for delivery to the underlying turret structure. I

Supported adjacent to and longitudinally of the (:onveyer are a pair of spaced parallel rails 103. 101- which coi pcl'atc with the lower gripper jaws to maintain them positively in gripping condition during their progress with the veneer strips. Figs. 1, 2. 7. 8, 13 and 11-.) The rail 102$ is arranged beneath the lower run of the conveyor, and its upper edge is shaped to receive and guide recessed portions 105 formed in the swinging arms of the respective grippers; and the rail 104- is disposed in a higher plane so as to owrlmng the extension 100 as the grippers travel rearward. Thus the two rails co-act with the swinging gripper jaws as and when. the latter grip the veneers and progress therewith. The forward or receiving ends of the rails are preferably slightly flared. as at 100. to permit the passage of the grippers to and between the rails.

1n the present instance the rails are supported by posts 107 which are bolted at their lower ends to the side bars 108 of the hori- :contal veneer supporting bed of the skillet blanlr chopping machine, and the cam piece 102 previously rctte 'red to for opening the grippeni in order to release the severed veneer lengths, is formed on a bracket 109 which is bolted to a s'carw-irdly extending liar illt) that is convcnient atlined to one oi the supporting posts :t'or the rails. The bars 108, which are supported by standards 1.08 rising from the bed, bear a series of spaced anti-friction rollers .108 upon which stacks of veneer lengths are successively deposited by the turret structure, the preif'erred form of Which. will now be described.

The turret structure is mounted on a horizontal axis directly beneath and parallel to the lower run of the conveyor, and it inchutes tour spaced elongated con'ipartments that are adapted by the intermittent rota tion of the structure to be positioned sucoessively beneath the conveyor and thus re coivc the severed strips oil. veneer; each com.- partment when loaded being advanced by two quarter turns of the structure to a reverse position in order to discharge, by gravity, its load upon the veneer supporting bed. of the skillet chopper. (See Figs. 1, 2. 1.3, i l and 15.)

The turret structure herein illustrated comprises T0111 relatively long angle irons ill that are atiixed to a series of rectangular center blocks 11E arranged at intervals along a sluiftt .l which has its hearings in suitable binres on the main standards 21, 22, the whole constituting a rotary skeleton 'lramc having tour elongated e'des. The walls of the compartments are comprised by suitably-arranged plates 116i which are at fined to the angle irons; each wall being made up of a series of corresponding plate sections spaced apart throughout the length oi. the rotary frame, and the outer sides of adjacent plates being connected by segmental braces 115.

For convenience of description the compartments are designated 1, 2, 3 and 4 in F 14tand 15. At the outset the turret is disposed with its compartment 1 in receptive position for the strips of veneer as they are being drawn out and cut, as above described; such operations being continued until the compartment is filled. Thereupon the turret is moved a quarter-turn in the direction. indicated by the arrow in Fig. 14, t. c. contra-clockwise--so as to shift the filled compartment from and advance an empty compartment (2) beneath the conveyer, which latter compartment is then supplied with strips oil? veneer similarly to the immediately preceding compartment. This done, the turret is again partially rotated to bring the third compartment (3) to filling position directly beneath the conveyor, thus reversing the first filled compartment directly above and positioning its contents on the underlying roller bed of the chopping machine.

It is to be noted that the posts 107 above referred to are segmental in term, as shown in Fig. 14, in order to permit the rotation of thefilled compartments and also to serve as guards to prevent the displacement of the stacks of veneer strips during the travel 0f the compartments from their upright to their inverted position.

The turret is temporarily locked at the end of each rotary movement by means of a bolt 116 (Fig. 14:) which is adapted to engage a suitably-disposed orifice 112 in a hub on the spacing block 112 at the rear end of the turret. In the 'n'csent instance the bolt comprises a bar which is pivotally suspended by means oli a link 116 from a suitablydisposed crossbar 118 on the main frame, the inner end of the bolt bar being held normally in looking position by means of a spring 119 which is secured thereto and to a. fixed portion of the machine. The outer end of the bolt is provided with a suitable handle 120 to facilitate the manual retraction of the bolt.

When the compartment 1 is first filled the bolt is retracted to release the turret, and the latter is moved by hand to bring the second compartment to filling position, but after the second compartment has been filled the overbalancing weight of the stack of veneers contained in the first compartment automatically rotates the turret, when the latter is unlocked, to bring the third compartment to upright or filling position, and so on.

When the stack of veneers in one compartment is imposed 011 the roller bed, such stack is advanced by hand, or otherwise, into engagement with the usual vertical teed-rolls 121 of the chopping machine, and the machine is clutched into action; whereupon the stack of veneers is drawn longitudinally through the skillet chopper until the inverted compartment is emptied. At the same time the upright compartment is being filled. Thus in the intermittent rotation of the turret each succeeding empty compartment is broug-rht to upright or filling positionand then advanced to an inverted position directly above the roller bed of the chopping machine.

During the filling and chopping opera tions the banks of veneer strips in the upright and inverted. compartments of the turret are evened. up by beater mechanism which preferably comprises a series of up standing vibratory bars 122 pivoted, as at 123, to brackets on the frame bed 20 so as to extend adjacent to one side ot the turret. The bars 122 are spaced correspondingly with the wall plates 114 of the adjacent compartments and are movable in proximity to the space of the latter. said bars being the opposing edges of the superposed connected by a beam and being movable as a unit.

Mounted in suitably-disposed bearings beneath the roller bed of the skillet chopper is a shaft 117. which extends longitudinally of the bed. On the rear end of this shaft is a gear 117 in mesh with a gear 118' on a transverse shaft 119 having its bearings in a bracket casing 120 depending from the bed. On one end of the shaft 119 is a sprocket-wheel 121 which is connected by means of a chain 122 with a sprocket-wheel 123 on the rear shaft 26 of the gripper conveyer, whereby. during the operation of the latter shaft motion is transmitted to the shaft 117. L n the shaft 117 are suitablydisposed eccentrics 12d (in the present instance four) which are connected by rods 125 with the adjacent beater bars 122, so as to effect the oscillation of the latter as above described.

The upper or acting portions of the respective bars are preferably provided with yielding bearing members 126 which are constructed and arranged to contact with veneer strips in the vertically-disposed compartments of the turret. In the present instance these members comprise vertical plates affixed to horizontal pins or bolts 127 which are slidingly fitted in perforated bearings 128 on the bar, said bearings being socketed to receive springs 129 which press against pins or projections on the'pins or bolts 127. Fig. -The yielding plates during the inward impulses of the bars 122 act against the opposing veneer strips and force them squarelyagainst the opposite sides of the two compartments.

1 preferably provide the walls of the compartments with outward projections 130 with whichengage a series of suitably-disposed weighted pawls 131 at the end of each intermittent movement of the turret so as to prevent retrograde movement of the latter; the forward movement of the turret being positively checked by the contact of the veneerstrips of the lowermost compartment against the beater plates. The pawls are mounted at intervals on a rod 131 ex ending lengthwise of the machine and supported in bearings on the posts 107.

The chopping machine with which my improved stacking mechanism is associated may be of any usual or approved construction; In the'present instance I have illus trated a. known form of skillet blank chopping majchine,which need not be specifically described. It includes table 132 which is supported on the standards22 in the same horizontal plane as the tops of the rollers 108 one of the standards providing a vertical guide wall against which a side of the stack is supported and guided as the strips are advancedto the path of the usual reciprocating' chopping knife 1 13. (See l ig s. 2 and 16.) The vertical feed rolls 1.2L cxtcnd above the top of the table, one being mounted in fixed. hearings 1.23 5 cxtcriorly of the ad jacent standard so as to extend through a vertical slot in the guide wall, and thc olhcr being mounted in a bearing carria a c 33 which is adjustable train-.vcrscly of thc tab e to vary the space bctwccn the rolls :1:; dcsired. The adjustment of the carriagc is fected by parallel screw-shafts 13} opcra tively connected by i1n.crmcshin s near wheels 135 usual. (See Figs. H and 1a.; The lower studs of the feed rolls arc prw vided with bevel gear-wheels l lil which mesh with similar whccls 137 on a transverse shaft 138 having; its hearings in thc standards 22; the gear-wheel 137 which meshes with the ear-wheel of thc adjustai do roll on the 1:1;1'0 being splincd on tho shaft 138 so as to be movabl along the latter. On one end of the shaft 138 is secured a disk 139 which is opcratircly connected by means of a rod 140 with a crank-disk 141 on the crank-shaft 112 of the chopper; whereby during each complete rotation of said shaft 14.2 the shaft 138 and therewith the feed rolls 121 are properly rotated to adtance the stack of veneers a predetermined distance; it being noted that thc cranlcpin is adjustable towar fl or from thc center of the disk to determine the cxtcnt of ad "ancc ment of the Veneer stack.

A pivoted prcsser foot 1 1-2 carried by an arm 1 13' which is hung; from a rocker shaft in monntal in the stamlards 22. hears upon the top of the stack of vcnccr lengths as and when the stack engages the fer-d rolls. The shaft M 1 is provided with an exterior crank handle whereby the arm and its foot can be readily thrown into and out of the path of the veneer stack. as de sired. (See Figs. 2 and 13.)

ln each advance of the stack of \cnccr lengths skillet blanks arc severed thcrei'rmn by the vcrtically-rcciprocating knife 143 which is carried by a cross-head Ml mount ed in suitable gnideways 145 on the stand The cross-head is connected by means of a rod 116 with the cm lr-shait 1 1:3 as usual, which shaft is imcrmiitcmly clutched to a continuously rotating driving gear 1&7 that is normally loose thcrcon. This gear is positively driven from the motor shaft through a suitable train of go: ring comprisii in the present instance. a gear a on the motor sha l't meshing with a gear 3) on an adjacent shaft which boa rs a gear (Z in mesh with the gear 14:7. nlotion is also transmitted from the near (1. through intermediate gears c to the ar 31 on the rear conveyor shaft. 26; and honor the conic, and the gcar 14.7 ar simultancously driven from the motor. (tiee Figs. l3 and 1 1.)

ards 22.

ltlt) l it) The effective connection between the "crank-shaft and the gear 147 is accomplished by a regulation punch-press clutch which is designed to effect the release of the crankshaft on its highest point of travel. The CODSUHC'tlOIl of the form of clutch shown in Figs. 13, 14, 17 and 18 is briefly as follows: Fast on the shaft 142 adjacent the gear 147 is a friction wheel 148 about which passes a friction band 149, one end of which is secured to a fixture on the framework and the other end to an adjustable spring-retracted pin 150 which is slidin gly mounted in an orifice in said fixture. tllidingly mounted in a transverse aperture in the friction wheel is a clutch pin 151 which is movable into and out of registry with a suitably-disposed socket 152 in the hub of the gear 147. A spring 153 secured to the wheel 148 and to a lug on the clutch pin 151 holds the latter normally in engaging position with relation to the socket in the gear hub. On a lateral stud on the clutch pin is a roll 154 which lies in the path of a segmental cam head 155 on a vertically movable bar 156 which is fitted to guides 157 on the adjacent :l'rame standard and is held normally raised by means of a spring 158 thatis secured to the bar 156 and to the standard. On the lower end of this bar is a stud 159 which extends into the path of the hook-shaped upper arni 160 of a hand lever 161 which is fulcrumed on a stud 162 on the standard; the construction being such that by manually swinging the lower or handle end of the lever outward, the hook thereof engages the stud 159 and thus lowers the bar 156 and locks it in down position, thereby removing the cam 155 from the roll 154 of the clutch pin and permitting the latter to engage the soclrcted hub of the gear 147, as seen in Figs. 17 and 18. When the lever 161 is manually forced down (as seen in Fig. 13) it releases the bar 156 and allows the cam toengage the roll of the clutch pin and thus disengage the latter from the continuously rotating gear 147. 163 is simply a suitably-disposed spring-pressed stop for the handle lever when the latter is in down position.

The cooperative relation of the clutch elements is such that when the cam bar is elevated as above mentioned the clutch pin is positively retracted thereby when the crank of the crank-shaft is at the highest point of its rotation, said shaft thus being released from the gear 147. The action oi? the brakeband 149 upon the brake-wheel 148 is so adjusted as to prevent an over-run of the crankshaft with any desired speed of the chopper.

The successive operations oi the chopping machine are eil'ected by the timely manipulation of the handle lever 161; the lower stack of veneers which rests on the horizontal roller-bed beneath the turret being intermittently advanced by the feed rolls 121 to determine the length of the severed skillet blanks. lVhen said stack has been wholly withdrawn from the adjacent compartment oi the turret the latter makes a partial turn as above described and deposits a succeeding stack of veneer lengths on the roller bed of the chopper, which stack is thereupon advanced to the feed rolls 121, and intermittently impelled across the path or the reciprocating knife 143 similarly to the preceding stack; and so on.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific constructions herein disclosed, as the mechanism may be modified within the principle of" the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The combination with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of traveling mechanism, including a gripper, arranged in spaced. relation to said engaging and feeding means, actuating means whereby said gripper is caused to grip said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, said. severingmeans being spaced between the strip engaging and feeding means and the path of the traveling mechanism, and means for actuating the grip per to releasethe severed lengths.

2. The combination with means for in termittently engaging and feeding "veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of an endless conveyer arranged in spaced relation to said engaging and Ztceding means, means for driving said conveyor, a gripper on said conveyer, means for actuating said gripper whereby it is caused to grip the said strips and draw them lengthwisea predetermined d nice. means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, said severing means being spaced between the strip engaging and feed: ing means and the path of the conveyer, and means for actuating the gripper to release the severed lengths.

3. The combination with means tor intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of an endless conveyer arranged in spaced relation to said enga and feeding means and the path of the conveyer, and means for temporarily opening the gripper to release the severed lengths.

4. The combination of means for intermittently engaging and feeding stripsas they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of'traveling mechanism, including a gripper, actuating means whereby said gripper is caused to grip said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severing measured lengths from the strips, means for locking said feed ing and said severing means in idle position while the strips are being drawn lengthwise by the gripper, means for actuating said locking means to release said feeding and saidsevering means when the strip lengths have been measured, and means for actuating the gripper to release the severed lengths.

5. The combination with means for engaging and feeding strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, said means including a feed roll and means for intermittently rotating the same, of traveling mechanism, including a gripper, actuating means whereby said gripper is caused to gripsaid stri as and draw them lengthwise a predetermineddistance. means, in-

cluding a reciprocating cutter, ior severing the measured lengths from the strips, means for locking said roll and said cutter in idle position while the strips are being drawn lengthwise by the gripper, means for actuating said locking means to release the roll and cutter whenthe strip lengths have been measured, and means for actuating the gripper to release the severed strips.

.6. The combination with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of an endless conveyer, means for driving the same, a gripper on said conveyer, means for actuating said gripper whereby it is caused to grip the said stripsand draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, means,

including a trip member, for locking said feeding and said severing means in idle position while the strips are being drawn lengthwise by the gripper, means for actuating said locking means to release said feeding and said severing means when the strip lengthshave been measured, said releasing means including a' rotary element for periodically engaging the said trip member,"and a device on the conveyer for actuating said element; and means for actuat-ingthe gripper to release tie severed lengths; V

7-. The combination with means for engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a; veneer peeling inachine, said means including a feed roll and means for intermittently rotating the same,

per, actuating means whereby .aid ;.-jripper is caused to grip said :trips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance.means, including a reciprocating cutter, for scvcring the measured lengths from the strips, :1 locking member rotatable with the feed roll, a bolt member normally in locking relation to said mombcr, lcvcr connections for said bolt member, a wiper device on tho conveyer for actuating said connections to retract said bolt member from locking position, a dog for retaining said bolt member retracted, said dog having a trip portion, and a rotary element for periodically ongaging said trip portion, aid element being actuated by the said wiper device.

8. The combinzdnm with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of an endless conveyer, I eans, ineluding a forward sprocket-wheel, for supporting and driving said convoypl. a gripper on said conveyer, means for actuating said gripper whereby it is caused to grip the said strips adjacent said sprocket-wheel and draw them let thwise a predctermincd distance, means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, means for locking said feeding and said severing means in idle position while the strips are being drawn lengthwise by the gripper. means for actuating said locking means to release said feeding and said severing means when the strip lengths have been measured, said releasing means inchuling a wiper element on the conveyer having laterally projecting studs, and a sprocket-wheel member associated with the forward sprocket-wheel. and adapted to receive and support the studs of the wiper element as the latter passes about the said sprocket-wheel.

ll. 'lhe combination with means for engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling ma.- chine, of an endless conveyer, means for driving the same, two grippers mounted on said conveyer in spaced relation to each other, means adjacent the front end of said conveyer for actuating said grippers in succession whereby each gripper is caused to grip the said strips at certain intervals and draw them lengthwise predetermined distance, means for sever-in the measured lengths from the strips, Inca s. inclmling bolt and dog devices, for locking said feeding and said severing means in idle position while the strips are being d rawn lengthwise by each gripper, means for actuating said locking means to release said feeding and said severing means when the strip lengths have been measured, said releasing means including two wiper devices arranged on the conveyer in spaced relation to the respecloo ill)

lilo

tive grippers and adapted successively to effect theretraction of the bolt devices, and a rotary double-toe element for periodically operating the dog device, said toe element being successively actuated by said wiper devices.

10. The combination with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of an endless conveyer arranged in spaced relation to said engaging and feeding means, means for driving said conveyer,a gripper on said conveyer comprisingnormally closed jaw members, one of which is movable relatively to the other and is provided with an end extension, a cam member in the path of said extension wherebythe movable jaw member is opened and then permitted to grip the said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, said severing means being spaced between the strip engaging and feeding means and the path of the conveyer, and a cam arranged in the path of said extension after the strips have been severed, whereby the movable gripper jaw is opened to release the severed lengths.

11. The combination with means forintermittcntly engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of an endless conveyer arranged in spaced relation to said engaging and feeding means, means for driving said conveyer, a gripper on said conveyer comprising normally closed jaw members one of which is movable relatively to the other and is provided with an end extension, a cam member in the path of said extension whereby the movable jaw member is opened and then permitted to grip the said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, spaced parallel guide bars with which said extension and jaw member contact during the active travel of the gripper, means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, said severing means being spaced between the strip engaging and feeding means and the path of the conveyer, and a cam arranged in the path of said extension after the strips have been severed, whereby the movable gripper jaw is opened to release the severed lengths. y

12. The combination with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of an endless conveyer arranged in spaced relation to said engaging andfeeding means, means for driving said conveyer, two

grippers mounted on said conveyer in spaced relation to each other, means adjacent the front end of the conveyer for actuating said grippers in succession whereby each gripper is caused to grip the said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance,

grippers to release the severed lengths,

13. The combination with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips asthey are delivered from a veneer peeling machine,ol" traveling mechanism, including a gripper and. actuating means therefor, whereby said gripper is caused to grip the said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, means for actuating the gripper to release the severed lengths, and a movable structure having a series of stacking compartments adapted to be brought successively into the path of the descending veneer lengths thus released by the gripper.

14:. The combination with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneerpeeling machine, of traveling mechanism, including a gripper and actuating means therefor, whereby said gripper is caused to grip the said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severingthe measured lengths from the strips, means for actuating the gripper to release the severed. lengths, and. an intermittently rotatable turret structure having a series of spaced stacking compartments adapted to be brought successively into the path of the descending said gripper is caused to grip the said strips and drawthem lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severing the measured lengths from the strips, means 'for actuating the gripper to release the severed lengths, an intermittently rotatable turret structure having a series of spaced stacking compartments-adapted to be brought successively into the path of the descending veneer lengths thus released by the gripper, and means for temporarily locking said turret at the end of each of its rotary movements.

16. The combination with means for intermittently engaging and feeding veneer strips as they are delivered from a veneer peeling machine, of traveling mechanism. including a gripper, actuating means whereby said gripper is caused to grip the said strips and draw them lengthwise a predetermined distance, means for severing the measured intermittently rotatable turret structure having a series of spaced stacking compartments Ill) 5 

